I tell the athletes that I work with that visualization (imagery) is the most powerful mental tool there is for so many reasons. But when they hear that message from the world’s greatest athletes, it carries even more weight.

I came across a great short video with Michael Phelps and his longtime coach, Bob Bowman, discussing the power of visualization. They describe what makes it is so beneficial:

• Vividness.
• Repetition.
• Fools the body into thinking it’s actually performing.
• Rehearse a competition many times before the actual event.
• Prepare for anything–good or bad– that might happen.

A nice reminder from the greatest Olympic athlete of all time.